PETALING JAYA: A married couple has been jointly charged in Sessions Court for allegedly abusing their baby by giving formula milk mixed with the dangerous drug methamphetamine.
The accused, Nabila Huda Fadli, 34, pleaded guilty, while her husband, Sofian Mustapa Zin, 40, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh.
According to the charge sheet, the couple were accused of committing the offence against their one-year-four-month baby in an apartment at Taman Medan Petaling Jaya on Feb 19.
This had caused the child to experience allegedsympathomimetic drug ingestion.
The offence falls under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and read together with section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or 20 years' imprisonment or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin prosecuted, while the accused were unpresented.
During the proceeding, Ahmad Zuhaini proposed a bail of RM15,000 for each accused, and they must report to the police station every month until the case is concluded.
"The two accused are a married couple, but have not registered their marriage here," he said after being questioned by the judge about the accused's relationship with the victim.
However, Sofian appealed to the court to reduce the bail due to his unstable income, including supporting his parents while still providing for his school-going child.
Nabila Huda also requested a bail reduction, as she is currently unemployed and responsible for caring for her three children.
Syahliza allowed both accused a RM5,000 bail in one surety each and ordered them to report to the nearest police station once each month.
The accused were also prohibited from contacting and disturbing the witness.
The court fixed March 13 for the presentation of facts and judgement for the housewife, as well as the appointment of an attorney and the mention of the case for the husband.
Previously, it was reported that police arrested the couple after mistakenly mixing their baby's formula milk with liquid methamphetamine.
Petaling Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Shahrulnizam Jaafar@Ismail said they received information about the incident reported by Kajang Hospital on Feb 20.